How to design a pleasing aquascape?

Ms.Bubbles

Ms.Bubbles

AC Members
Sep 26, 2005
840
0
0
Hi everyone,

I've got a 3 gallon tank with anacharis & vals in it to help water quality, but I'm not perfectly happy with the way it looks--in one word BORING. All the plants are basically in a row & it just looks blah (but nice & green).

My question is: Is there a kind of formula for designing a tank with plants? Some basic rules for where to put the plants so that the effect is visually pleasing?

I'm fairly limited in space, because it's only a 3 gallon tank, & I don't want to totally dwarf my fish (just 1 small betta) with giant plants, plus I want to give him some room to move around.

Thanks in advance :)
 
My betta likes to get into the anacharis. He perches/ sleeps, hops over the branches. They are mostly free floating at the top of the tank. He also lays in the tall roots of my other plants and on their broad leaves. also I use the plants as hiding places so if there is a darker area, I put plants around it (silk ones if hte light level is too low) So that is where it is at from the fish point of view.

As for human aesthetics...tall plants generally go to the back, med. in middle, small plants in the front. With your smaller tank, I'd work out from a corner, instead of using the whole back. Or I'd get a plant that is the focal point, and frame it with the other plants. OR just work the parimeter- which may make the fish feel protected as well.
 
God, I wish I knew the answer to this one. I'm never happy with my aquascape!

Here are some basic ideas which I hope better serves you than me :p:

In general, the substrate should be at a slope with more in the back and less in the front. This will give the illusion of more depth to the tank. An uneven substrate with slopes and hills look much better and more natural imo.

Plant in tight bunches. Plant a group of similar plants close together and when they grow out, it will look more impressive.

Tall plants in the back, short plants in the front. If you have tall plants in the front, you lose the depth as your eyes are drawn to the plant.

Symmetry is not wanted, it doesn't look natural. If you have focal points, like large driftwoods or a plant arrangement, offset them to one side and complement them with a smaller, less imposing design on the side.

Focus (my main problem) on a few key plants and build around them. You can still have a large variety of plants but they should complement the focal plants. If you like crypts, get plants with similar leaf structures like narrow leaf java fern. Too many plants of different shapes and color means you'll be less likely to focus on any of them.
 
You can find some basic info in this article Aquascaping Principals by Birgit and Wolfgang

The links that Kenny posted are excellent places to see some of these principles in action. Take the time to look back through previous years entries on the AGA website, there are many great designs on there. And if you really dig Takashi Amano you may consider getting your hands on Nature Aquarium World.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom